"The privileged always escape unscathed," Amy mused bitterly.

Alexander was certain he had her cornered. They shared a child, and she still harbored feelings for him. That was why he treated her with such careless arrogance.

Then, his phone vibrated sharply in his pocket. Gregory, his assistant, was calling. "Mr. Blackwood, we have a serious situation!"

Alexander frowned. "What's the emergency?"

"There's a flood of damaging videos circulating online about Ms. Langley. We can't contain them..."

Alexander's voice turned glacial. "I explicitly ordered you to suppress all press conference footage—live streams, recordings, everything."

Gregory's voice trembled. "The press conference materials are locked down. But these videos... they aren't from the event."

"Then where did they come from?" Alexander demanded.

"They're playing on every digital billboard in the city. We can't take them down fast enough." Gregory hesitated before adding, "And it's not just Ms. Langley in them. You're featured as well."

What Gregory couldn't bring himself to say was that the videos weren't just on billboards—they were in subways, buses, elevators. The entire city was in an uproar.

Unlike online virality, which primarily reached the digitally engaged, these public displays ensured everyone—from elderly dog walkers to schoolchildren—saw them. It was a full-scale, merciless attack.

Amy had outplayed him spectacularly.

Alexander fixed her with a piercing glare. "Was this your doing?"

Amy didn't blink. "Yes."

Sharp as ever, Alexander pieced together her strategy. "So, our little conversation was just a distraction?"

"Precisely," Amy replied coolly. "In Solmaris, you're untouchable, Mr. Blackwood. I had to be thorough. None of this would've been necessary if you'd stayed away or hadn't interfered."

The moment Alexander arrived, Amy knew the press conference wouldn't proceed. So, she discreetly messaged Sebastian and kept Alexander occupied, denying him any chance to intervene. By the time he realized what was happening, it was too late to stop the fallout.

No sooner had Gregory hung up than Alexander's phone rang again—this time, it was Nathan.

"Alex, it's bad! Victoria left the house and got caught in a mob. She's injured—they took her to the hospital!"

Alexander's expression darkened. "How serious is it?"

"Physically, she's stable. But the press found out she's there—they've swarmed the place. She's distraught. Alex, you need to come now!"

Alexander exhaled sharply. "I'm on my way."

After ending the call, he turned his frigid gaze back to Amy. "You're ruthless."

Amy merely smiled. "When dealing with snakes, you don't hold back."